Putter and backswing gauge therefor



Jan. 28, 19 69 E, Dmsco 3,424,462

. PUTTER AND BACKSWING GAUGE THEREFOR Filed Sept. 28, 1965 Sheet 1 of 2 INVENTOR, k d/776$ E Dm'acoZZ (IL-44g wg/IVQ Jam 28, 1969 I J. E. DRISCOLL 3,424,462

I Y. PUTTER AND BACKSWING GAUGE THEREFOR Filed Sept. 28, 1965 Sheet 2 of 2 INVENTOR. ame-5 E DmscoZZ M R ma United States Patent 3,424,462 PUTTER AND BACKSWING GAUGE THEREFOR James E. Driscoll, 314 Maple Ridge Drive, Waterbury, Conn. 06705 Filed Sept. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 490,855 US. Cl. 273-162 Int. Cl. A63b 69/39, 53/00 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates generally to a putting aid device for golfers and more particularly to a putter and backswing gauge therefor for increasing the accuracy of a putt over a given distance between the lie of the ball and the cup.

Accurate putting, when properly executed, is largely dependent upon the amount of backswing of the putter to position the striking head of the putter closer to or farther from the ball along the arcuate path of movement of the striking head during a stroke. Assuming that a relatively constant force is applied to the golf club with each putt by the user, the farther back along the arcuate path the striking head is positioned before commencing the putting stroke, the farther the ball is propelled toward the cup. This is due to the higher impact with which the striking head hits the ball resulting in turn from the greater velocity attained by the striking head moving over a longer arc.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a putter and backswing gauge therefor for determining the optimum amount of backswing of the putter necessary to propel a golf ball a given distance on a green presenting optimum conditions for putting.

Prior art proposals for putting aids involve, for the most part, either relatively complicated or cumbersome devices which secure or harness the golf club to the body of the user, thereby making such devices inconvenient to use and otherwise unattractive, or large, bulky and elaborate mechanisms which only simulate the putting green and are not portable but rather must be set up and used as a more or less permanent installation.

Accordingly, it is another principal object of this invention to provide a putter and backswing gauge therefor which is very simple in construction and use and which does not interfere in any way with the normal operation of the golf club, and also which, by such simplicity of construction, may be made to be readily attachable to any golf club and which therefore is extremely portable and suitable for use on the golf course or elsewhere.

The principles of this invention are embodied in a putter having a shaft, a handle and a striking head, and support means fixedly or removably mounted on the shaft, an elongate member secured to the support means and having .a backswing indicating scale thereon, preferably with a movable indicator member carried by the elongate member for movement along the scale. The elongate member is supported so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the striking head, with the start of the scale disposed in vertical alignment with the striking face. The indicator member if utilized 3,424,462 Patented Jan. 28, 1969 is set on the scale at a number which corresponds to the estimated distance which it is desired to propel the ball, after which the putter is swung back until the indicator, or merely the corresponding calibration of the scale, is in vertical alignment with the side of the ball to be struck. The striking head is then disposed at the optimum distance from the ball to impart the desired impact thereto under optimum conditions of the green.

A feature of the invention is the provision of means by which the elongate scale member is adjustably connected to the support means for movement both along its own axis so as to accommodate putters of different striking head configuration as well as laterally of its axis so as to be in visual alignment with the ball and players line of vision regardless of the particular stance of the player.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is normally compact for the usual range of putting shots encountered on a golf course green but which can be extended for unusually long putts.

A more thorough understanding of the invention will be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a putter illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the putter of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 33 and 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan views on a reduced scale illustrating the use of the putter;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternate form of securing means for the scale member;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modification of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the putter of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a sectional View taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 10; and

FIGS. 13 and 14 are views similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrating the use of the modified form of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the putter and backswing gauge therefor is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a shaft 12, a striking head 14, and a handle (not shown) at the other end of the shaft.

A support means is mounted on the shaft 12 between the striking head and the handle, and comprises a mounting block or body 16, one face of which is provided with a semi-circular recess 18 which is adapted to fit the shaft 12 of the putter. A cap 20 is provided which has a matching recess 22 which cooperates with the recess 18 to substantially completely encircle the shaft 12. The cap 20 is removably secured to the mounting block 16 by any suitable means such as the screws 24. It is to be understood that the support means may be integrally secured to the shaft 12 rather than removably secured as shown.

The support means includes an extension element in the form of a tubular arm 26 fixedly carried by the mounting block 16, the arm 26 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the striking head 14 in a direction to overlie the latter. A set screw 28 is threadedly engaged with the arm 26 adjacent the outer end thereof for a purpose hereinafter made clear.

One "leg of a right-angled connecting element 29 is telescopically received within the tubular arm 26, the other leg of the connecting element 29 being telescopically received within a tubular elongate member 30. The bend of the member 29 is formed such that the other leg and the member 30 extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the striking head 14 and in the direction of the striking stroke of the latter, that is, the member 30 extends generally in the intended direction of movement of the ball 32 when the latter is struck.

The member 30 is provided with a backswing indicating scale 34 having calibrations thereon which, for purposes of illustration, are in increments of five feet. It is to be understood, however, that the scale may be calibrated in anydesired manner so long as it is indicative of units of distance covering at least a normal range of distances which the ball 32 is propelled in the normal course of putting.

A mova ble indicator member 36 may preferably be provided and is mounted on the elongate member 30 to cooperate with the scale thereon to indicate an estimated distance which it is desired to propel the ball during a putt. The member 36 may be of any desirable shape and, as illustrated, comprises a ring having a frictional sliding fit with the outer surface of the elongate member 30 so as to remain in a set position.

The elongate member 30 is also provided with a set screw 40 which is threadedly engaged with the elongated member 30 adjacent the end which receives the connecting member 29. By selected manipulation of the set screws 28 and 40 and telescopic movement of the connecting member 29 with respect to both the arm 26 and the elongate member 30, the latter may be adjusted both laterally of its longitudinal axis to be disposed closer to or farther from the mounting block 16 so that the elongate member 30 can be disposed in visual alignment with the ball and the line of vision of the player when he has assumed a particular or desired stance for putting, and also along its longitudinal axis so as to dispose it closer to or farther from the plane of the striking face of the head 14 so that the start of the calibrations of the scale 34 may be vertically aligned with the striking face of the head 14.

In using the putter of this invention, the golfer assumes his normal stance for putting and adjusts the elongate member 30 as described above so that it is in visual alignment with the ball, and so that the start of the calibrations of the scale 34 is in vertical alignment with the striking face of the head 14, this position being illustrated in FIG. 6. The golfer then estimates the distance between the lie of the ball and the cup and sets the indicator 36, if utilized, to a position on the scale 34 which corresponds with the estimated distance. The putter is then swung back until the indicator 36 or the appropriate calibration is aligned with the side of the ball 32 to be struck, at which point the striking head 14 is disposed in a position which, on the putting stroke, it will strike the ball with the optimum impact to propel the ball the estimated distance.

It is to be understood that the backswing gauge is calibrated for greens having optimum conditions for putting, and that any variation from such optimum conditions, such as wet grass or uneven contour, must be considered by the user and appropriate corrections made therefor in setting the indicator 36 or in selecting an appropriate calibration for determining the amount of backswing.

The scale 34 is calibrated on the elongate member 30 to cover the normal range distances encountered in putting. In the event, however, that an unusually long putt is desired, the elongate member 30 is provided with a telescopically received extension 42 which may be extended to thereby extend the scale and provide additional calibrations for such long putt.

The bent rod 29 is suitable for use with putters in which the striking face of the head 14 is either in vertical alignment with the axis of the shaft 12 or is laterally olfset therefrom in the direction of the striking stroke of the putter. In the event that the sriking face of he head 14 is laterally offset from the axis of the shaft 14 in the direction of the backswing, a modified connecting member 29' illustrated in FIG. 8 may be used which has a gooseneck having a return bend so that the elongate member 30 is still perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the striking head 14 and yet may be axially moved to set the start of the calibrations in vertical alignment with the striking face of the head 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 14, the construction and arrangement of the components of the invention is similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the detail of parts being modified as hereinafter specifically described.

The support block 16 fixedly carries one end of a rod or shaft 60, the rod 60 adjustably carrying a connecting block 62 provided with a first threaded set screw 64. The block 62 adjustably carries another shaft 66 disposed at right angles to the shaft 60, and a second set screw 68 for setting the shaft 66 in a desired position.

An elongate member 69 is fixedly connected to the shaft 66 and is provided with a scale 70 and an indicator element or slide 72 having a pointer 74.

The adjustments of the elongate member 69 by means of the set screws 64 and 68, and the use of this embodiment of the device, are substantially the same as that described above in connection with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8.

The putter guide of this invention may be adjusted to compensate for differences, as between different players, in the physical force applied to the putter in making the putting stroke. This may be accomplished by adjusting the mounting means 1620 along the shaft so as to position the scale closer to or farther from the head of the putter. If, in practice putting, the player finds that having properly sighted the rear of the ball along the scale in the backswing and having struck the ball with a force which he usually applies in putting, the ball stops short of the distance determined, it is merely necessary for the player to move the mounting means farther from the head of the putter so that the angle between the perpendicular and the delineation on the scale is increased with the result that the length of the arc of the backswing and hence the putting stroke is increased. If the ball overshoots the determined distance, the mounting means is moved closer to the head to shorten the length of the arc of the backswing and stroke.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and are susceptible to modification of form, size, detail, and arrangement of parts, the invention being intended to cover all such variations and modifications thereof as are deemed to be within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A club for putting a golf ball from a lie on the green to a cup comprising a shaft, a handle portion, a head having a striking face, support means on the shaft beween the handle portion and the head, a rod mounted on the support and extending substantially horizontally therefrom to lie substantially over the striking face of the club, means carried by the rod and including an elongate member extending from the rod substantially horizontally in the direction of the shortest straight line distance to the cup from the ball when the ball is addressed by the club, and a scale on the elongate member having delineations which, in reference to the striking face of the head, represent distances from the lie of the ball to the cup, said delineations indicating, by visual vertical alignment of the ball with the scale the optimum amount of backswing, in reference to the lie of the ball, which should be taken preparatory to putting the ball the estimated distance toward the cup under optimum conditions of the green.

2. A golf club of the putter type as defined in claim 1 in which indicating means is slidably mounted on and settable along said scale and cooperable therewith for indicating an estimated distance within said range over which it is desired to propel the ball, whereby when the putter is swung back until the indicating means is in vertical alignment with the side of the ball to be struck, the striking head is in optimum position in relation to the ball to propel the ball over said estimated distance when the ball is struck.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means includes means for adjustably setting and securing said elongate member closer to or farther from said shaft whereby said scale may be set to lie within the line of vision between a user of the putter and the ball when the user is in a putting stance.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means includes means for adjustably setting and securing said scale closer to or farther from the plane of the striking face of said striking head so that the start of the delineations of the scale may be vertically aligned with said striking face of the head.

5. The combnation as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes first means for adjustably setting and securing said elongate member closer to or farther from said shaft and second means for adjustably setting and securing said elongate member closer to or farther from the plane of the striking face of said striking head whereby the elongate member may be set to lie within the line of vision between a user of the putter and the ball when the user is in a putting stance, and the elongate member may be set so that the start of the calibrations of the scale may be vertically aligned with said striking face.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting means is axially adjustable along the shaft.

7. A club for putting a golf ball from a lie on the green to a cup comprising a shaft, a handle portion, a head having a striking face, support means on the shaft between the handle portion and the head, and an elongate member carried by said support means to extend substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the striking face of the head and in a plane which is spaced a determinate distance above the bottom surface of the head, said elongate member having delineations which, in reference to the striking face of the head, represent distances from the lie of the ball to the cup for the purpose described, said support means comprising a body connected to said shaft, a tube connected to said body and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said striking head in a direction to overlie the latter, and a bent rod formed to have two legs disposed at substantially a right angle to each other, one of said legs being received within said 'tube, the other leg extending perpendicular thereto in the direction of the striking stroke of the putter, said elongate member being tubular and receiving said other leg t'herewithin.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rod is bent in the form of a gooseneck having a return bend in order to dispose said legs at said right angle to each other whereby the start of the calibrations on said elongate member may be set to lie in vertical alignment with said striking face when the latter is laterally otfset from the axis of the shaft in the direction of backswing of the putter.

9. A club for putting a golf ball from a lie on the green to a cup comprising a shaft, a handle portion, a head having a striking face, support means on the shaft between the handle portion and the head, and an elongate member carried by said support means to extend substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the striking face of the head and in a plane which is spaced a determinate distance above the bottom surface of the head, said elongate member having delineations which, in reference to the striking face of the head, represent distances from the lie of the ball to the cup for the purpose of determining the optimum extent of the backswing of the club preparatory to striking the ball, said support means comprising a body connected to said shaft, 2. rod connected to said body and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said striking head in a direction to overlie the latter, a connecting block mounted on said rod, said connecting block having means for receiving one end of said elongate member formed to dispose said elongate member substantially perpendicular to said rod in the direction of the striking stroke of said putter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,566,776 12/1925 Schenk 27335 3,118,678 1/1964- Rohr 273163 3,182,401 5/1965 Stevens 273-162 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS ZACK, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 33174; 273-194 

